Today's fortune: Culture and customs of China attract you.
My brother suggested that I should walk around my house and take note of all the things made in China. Since I'm lazy, I decided just to look at the stuff on and around my desk, but I think it also proves the larger point - no matter where you go in your house, you're surrounded by stuff made in China.
(But, yeah, mostly because I'm lazy.)
A brief rundown of the made-in-China items I discovered in a two-minute search of my desk:
My computer.
My computer's speakers.
My computer's keyboard and mouse.
The phone.
My cell phone.
The electric fan on the corner of my desk.
The Bret Saberhagen bobblehead doll that keeps me company while I write.
The ukelele off the the side of my desk, the one I should be practicing more.
And that's just the stuff I found; I'm sure the desk, too, is made in China, but I can't see the country-of-origin label (and I'm too lazy to look for it very hard).
Ironically, the one thing you may think would be clearly made in China is actually produced in the good ol' U.S. of A: the fortune cookies. In fact, all four batches I've purchased this year have been made by different manufacturers in America.
Actually, maybe that's not so ironic: fortune cookies are, largely, an American invention, based on a Japanese recipe. I don't need to re-invent the wheel here - for the full story, check out Jennifer 8 Lee's great book, "The Fortune Cookie Chronicles."
I could get into the politics of America's obsession with and dependence on Chinese-made products, but please reference my laziness comments above. Really, everything I know about Chinese culture and customs I learned from Pearl S. Buck.
If you've never heard of her (shame on you), Pearl Buck was an American author who lived in China for decades. She was a prolific novelist, and many of her best works are about the country that became her second home, most famously "The Good Earth," a book that is rightly considered one of the best novels ever written. I have a shelf almost entirely dedicated to Buck novels in my library.
Her signature is also hanging on my office wall, a gift from my aforementioned brother.
Although "The Good Earth" is a masterpiece, my favorite Buck novel, and the first one of hers I read, is called "Imperial Woman," a lesser-known piece of historical fiction about Chinese Empress Dowager Tz'u Hsi, who ruled her country like a gangsta. "Imperial Woman" holds a special place in my library on a shelf with my favorite books of all time.
Pearl S. Buck writes about ancient and modern China in a way that's so vivid it has to be real. And while it may be problematic that I've learned about China through the writings of a white American, I've held a special place in my heart for China ever since first picking up that dusty book up there.
So read "The Good Earth." Read "Imperial Woman," if you can find a copy. Study up on China as much as you can. It may help you out when they become our landlords.
It may help you out when they become our landlords. (^_^) LOL!!!!! (@_@)
ReplyDeleteIm too lazy to look up my google address so you can see that its me, Anna, so I just post anonymous.
2015625meiqing
ReplyDeletecheap lululemon
coach factorty outlet
coach handags
chanel outlet
coach factory outlet online
jordan 11
louis vuitton
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton outlet
gucci outlet
michael kors handbags
concords 11
fendi
toms shoes
ralph lauren outlet
chanel bags outlet
jordan shoes
adidas wings
cheap toms
cheap jerseys
christian louboutin sale
jordan 11 columbia
michael kors bag
louis vuitton outlet
abercrombie fitch
louis vuitton
coach factory outlet online
true religion outlet
discount oakley sunglasses
coach outlet store online
michael kors outlet online
hollister clothing
michael kors outlet
prada outlet
prada
cheap air max
christian louboutin shoes
hollister clothing
jordan 11 low
christian louboutin sale
15929meiqing
ReplyDeletetoms outlet
sac longchamp
oakley sunglasses wholesale
cheap jerseys
ugg boots
rolex replica watches
sac longchamp pliage
prada
kevin durant shoes
mizuno running shoes
michael kors outlet online
louis vuitton
cheap ray ban sunglasses
canada goose jackets
juicy couture
nike free run
michael kors
air max 90
coach factory outlet
louboutin pas cher
toms shoes
nike air force 1
cheap uggs boots
supra shoes
abercrombie
cheap oakleys
ugg boots outlet
abercrombie and fitch
louis vuitton borse
instyler curling iron
2015-10-17 xiaozhengm
ReplyDeletelouis vuitton outlet stores
Nike Lebron James Shoes For Sale
coach outlet
ugg sale
michael kors outlet
Jordan Retro 13 Pink And Grey
burberry outlet
michael kors outlet
ralph lauren polo outlet
canada goose jackets
UK Louis Vuitton Handbag Outlet
coach outlet online
Authentic Coach Factory Outlet Online
coach factory outlet
true religion outlet
louis vuitton handbags
Coach Outlet Store Online Official Website
Coach Factory Online Outlet Cheap Purses
uggs on sale
michael kors handbags
Hollister Shirts For Women
celine bag
fitflops
mont blanc pens
toms outlet
Air Jordan Shoes For Women And Men
Authentic Louis Vuitton Handbags Cheap Sale
louis vuitton
Abercrombie and Co Stoves and Awnings
michael kors outlet online
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton outlet stores
uggs clearance
Christian Louboutin Outlet Authentic Sneakers Online
cheap jerseys
cheap ugg boots
ReplyDeletesoccer jerseys
longchamp outlet
the north face clearance
basketball shoes
moncler coats
north face jackets
belstaff jackets
louis vuitton handbags
football shirts
karen millen dresses
ugg boots
ray ban sunglasses
asics
cheap nba jerseys
tory burch outlet
true religion jeans
cheap michael kors handbags
ray ban sunglasses
nike air force 1
cheap mlb jerseys
cyber monday deals
michael kors clearance
oakley sunglasses wholesale
ugg boots
cheap mlb jerseys
cheap uggs
nike huarache
timberland boots
uggs on sale
cai20151031
rolex watches
ReplyDeletecanada goose jackets
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors factory outlet
fitflops sale
michael kors outlet clearance
black friday deals
winter jackets
louis vuitton outlet
ray ban sunglasses
ugg boots
fitflop clearance
coach outlet online
ugg australia
true religion jeans
mulberry sale
ralph lauren polo
oakley sunglasses
cheap jordans
lebron james shoes
ugg boots
the north face outlet store
tiffany outlet
nba jerseys
ugg sale
chanel handbags
football shirts
moncler coats
nike huarache
michael kors handbags clearance
michael kors handbags
ralph lauren outlet
wedding dresses
the north face clearance
wellensteyn jackets
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton handbags
ferragamo shoes
fitflops sale clearance
mulberry handbags
cai20151214
prada outlet
ReplyDeletemichael kors sale
michael kors outlet online
michael kors outlet
swarovski outlet
nike tn pas cher
michael kors wallet sale
ray ban sunglasses
louis vuitton outlet
ralph lauren
michael kors online outlet
pandora jewelry
michael kors handbags
tiffany outlet
kobe bryants shoes
michael kors outlet online
swarovski outlet
michael kors online
ray-ban sunglasses
beats by dr dre
longchamp pliage
juicy couture outlet
pandora jewelry
michael kors factory outlet
michael kors outlet online
christian louboutin outlet
links of london
cheap snapbacks
nike air max
kobe bryant shoes
true religion jeans
michael kors handbags
michael kors handbags
mcm outlet
swarovski crystal
20160326zhenhong
chenlina20160715
ReplyDeletetimberland boots
michael kors purses
true religion outlet
ray ban sunglasses
louis vuitton outlet
fake watches
ray ban sunglasses
rolex watches
louis vuitton outlet
air max 90
michael kors handbags
hermes birkin bag
ray ban sunglasses
nike factory outlet
toms outlet
true religion
louis vuitton bags
michael kors handbags
adidas shoes
michael kors outlet
louboutin
louis vuitton outlet
air huarache
kate spade
coach outlet
cheap ray ban sunglasses
michael kors
jordan 3
fitflops
kids lebron shoes
adidas running shoes
louis vuitton outlet
toms shoes
adidas uk
michael kors outlet
gucci outlet
gucci handbags
mont blanc
ralph lauren
michael kors outlet
as
rolex watches for sale
ReplyDeletetoms shoes
canada goose sale
ugg boots
cheap jordans
new england patriots jerseys
adidas yeezy
louis vuitton
polo ralph lauren outlet
moncler coat
oakley sunglasses
coach outlet
christian louboutin chaussures
ray ban sonnenbrille
michael kors outlet
uggs pas cher
louis vuitton purses
adidas nmd
louis vuitton outlet
jordan retro 11
abercrombie & fitch
gucci handbags
adidas yeezy
true religion outlet online
canada goose coats
nike outlet store
louis vuitton handbags
cheap jordan shoes
uggs sale
timberlands
christian louboutin sneakers
uggs sale
coach outlet store online clearances
oakley vault
louis vuitton handbags
coach outlet online
adidas shoes
canada goose jackets
chenlili20160825